Hold out for the best pieces by your favorite artists. These are the ones that you will enjoy forever. Also, don't be afraid to commission works. I have commissioned a number of pieces, and they are among my favorites in my collection.

Very good advice - and it also underscores the point about starting out warily.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kai

More advice: I've often been told by an artist that a certain piece is "not for sale." My experience has been that everything is for sale, and that artists often hoard their best works for themselves. It usually just takes more money to pry these "not for sale" works loose from the artist. It is usually worth it, as these are typically their very best pieces.

This is generally true, but not entirely. An artist I know does this every time a collector displays an interest in any particular work. "Collector's mania" is very much about not being able to buy something, and then getting hold of it after all. This can be exploited easily.